Majority of users don't care about a graphics card because this majority uses only 2D operations, or should I say they need it just to draw and show picture on displays.

Some will use the graphics card to accelerate video files or help decode DVD content. but that's about it. The big mass or users don't care about 3D games or any kind of shaders. This is about to change with Longhorn.

Longhorn will feature a graphics subset called WGF (Windows Graphic Foundation). Its goal is to unify 2D and 3D graphics operation in one and will bring 2D Windows drawing and 3D operations together. Nowadays, 3D is done using a Direct X subset with the current version 9.0c.

Longhorn will also use 3D menus and 3D interfaces and will require at least Shader 2.0 compliant cards, so it will make the graphics card an important part of your PC. Nowadays, Windows doesn’t care much about graphics until you play your DVD or start a 3D game. In such cases, Windows actually benefits from graphic card acceleration whether we talk about video or 3D acceleration.

Believe it or not, your Windows performance will depend on the quality of graphics card you have. A faster card might draw something faster than a slower mainstream or entry level card, meaning that even some Office software might perform better if you have a faster 3D card.

Still, you don’t have to worry much as Longhorn is not expected until late 2006 anyway, so take your time. I bet that graphic vendors adore Longhorn and cannot wait to see it.